Do you give any kind of instructions to people when you take their picture? What do you say to them to help get the kind of shot you are looking for? (Or what kinds of things?) I’d like to take more street style shots but it seems a little delicate, asking people, and getting the shot without taking up too much of their time. Thanks for any advice!

Hi Meghan
i was wandering exactly the same thing the other day: how do you ask people to move around? My people are somehow too static I think. I need a lot of time to stare in people’s eyes I suppose!

I just arrived home from a technology-free vacation spent in northern Arizona, where Amanda was on my mind a lot. I thought about asking you about what you thought about her July article in British VOGUE upon my return, so it is incredible, wonderful and ironic to find her image here, on your blog, as if waiting! I found her article to be so refreshing and honest and inspiring, such a clear departure from so many fashion-insider articles in that she addresses issues of overspending, fashion in the context of a more true, down to earth definition of what it means to be a human being who values a life well lived, a fashionable life, a stylish life, but one not caged by rules. Honestly, it blew my mind. I also related to it because I taught fashion design at a rural boarding school for a while (frequent trips to LA!!), and I was teaching those classes in Isabel Marant, and truly it was just for me. I think Amanda is amazing, and your photo perfectly captures her spirit. xo

THANK YOU to beautiful Garance for your photo and to all her readers for your generous comments. For those of you asking about my jeans – they are JCrew (midrise toothpick). I love them because the waistband rises up just high enough to feel like my belly is tucked in, the leg is skinny enough without being obscene, and the length is perfect – just right to wear with any shoe. I have them in dark wash denim, a lighter wash with holes (seen here) and the perfect shade of off-white that is good year round because it’s not too bright. xx